Turkey continues work to achieve goal of first contact with moon

World 10:18 21.07.2021

As the world marks the 52nd anniversary of mankind’s primal walk on a celestial body other than planet earth, Turkey continues to work to make its first contact with the moon, Eurasia Diary reports citing Yeni Safak. 

Turkey aims to reach the moon with spacecraft that will be manufactured domestically and an indigenously produced hybrid engine, said an expert from the Turkish Space Agency, or TUA.

"Going to the moon is a symbolic goal. In this way, we will bring a space history to our country. At the same time, by increasing our space activities, we will gain experiences such as technology transfer and integration," Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Kucuk, the head of TUA’s Space Sciences Department, told Anadolu Agency in an interview.

Turkey, on the 100th anniversary of foundation of the republic, plans to send an unmanned spacecraft to the moon in 2023 as part of country’s National Space Program.

Unveiling its National Space Program on Feb. 9, Turkey outlined the country's 10-year vision, strategies, objectives and projects on space policy.

Kucuk went on to say that the installation works of the ground tracking station for the moon mission has begun, adding that an antenna system with a diameter of 20 meters (66 feet), which was also designed to be used for scientific purposes as a radio telescope, will be installed.

He added that the agency is in close contact with countries which have experience in the field of space, especially the countries in the Asian region, adding that TUA has signed agreements with Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Pakistan.

As it was indicated in TUA’s website, the cooperation activities have been conducted with 20 states and seven international organizations.

- Turkey's goal

About Turkey’s goal of first rough landing on the moon in 2023, Ahmet Dervisoglu, head of Astrophysics Department at Erciyes University in Kayseri, told Anadolu Agency that technically, Turkey wants to design an engine that could go up to the surface of the moon after getting out of the atmosphere.

"Such space flights bring together a vast array of knowledge in a coordinated manner," Dervisoglu said.

He went onto say: "Turkey does not want to miss this opportunity. To my understanding, Turkey is looking for a project that will bring together the engineering and science fields that it has been trying to support for a long time."

"And as a result of Turkey’s National Space Program, Turkey tries to be prepared to enter a sector that has a very large profit share for itself," he added.

Underlining the importance of Turkey's inclusion in organizations such as Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), Dervisoglu stated that collective works could be carried out with countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan, each of which has experience in different fields.

Turkey, in 2006, has been included in The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), which follows developments in space technologies, and provides a forum for knowledge-sharing.

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

Palestinian man shot dead after stabbing Israeli soldier during West Bank raid
21:20 10.07.2025
Israel has agreed to 'significant steps' to improve humanitarian situation in Gaza: EU foreign policy chief
21:00 10.07.2025
EU aims to mobilize up to $11.7B in investments for Ukraine's reconstruction
20:45 10.07.2025
UNAIDS warns funding collapse could lead to 6M new HIV infections, 4M deaths
20:30 10.07.2025
UN report sounds alarm on climate health risks for world's aging population
20:00 10.07.2025
Merz: Germany fully supports Ukraine's plans to join EU
19:45 10.07.2025
Azerbaijani citizens involved in Wagner armed group arrested - State Security Service conducts operation
19:15 10.07.2025
Luka Modric signs one-year contract with Milan
19:00 10.07.2025
Rubio: US hopes to persuade NATO allies to transfer some Patriot systems to Ukraine
18:45 10.07.2025
Zelenskyy: 200 agreements with total value of over €10B ready to be signed
18:30 10.07.2025
Von der Leyen's EU Commission survives Parliament confidence vote
18:15 10.07.2025
SOCAR becomes jersey sponsor of Turkish First League side
18:00 10.07.2025
Azerbaijan takes leading postion in UN digital trade survey
17:45 10.07.2025
Ex-NBA player Ben McLemore sentenced to over 8 years in prison for rape
17:30 10.07.2025
Russia warns Armenia of sanctions risk
17:15 10.07.2025
COP29 President, COP30 President-designate hold discussions at OPEC seminar
17:00 10.07.2025
Ilham Aliyev's meeting with Nikol Pashinyan was constructive
16:55 10.07.2025
Baku says Azerbaijan, Armenia agreed to continue dialogue in bilateral format
16:45 10.07.2025
Peskov: Baku-Yerevan peace treaty will bring stability to South Caucasus
16:30 10.07.2025
Azerbaijan refunds over 94M manats of VAT to consumers
16:15 10.07.2025
Amnesty International slams US sanctions on UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese
16:00 10.07.2025
China pushes back 50% US 'security' tariffs on copper imports
15:45 10.07.2025
Top Southeast Asian diplomats hold summit with China’s foreign minister
15:30 10.07.2025
Israeli strikes on Gaza leave 97 Palestinians killed, dozens more injured in past day
15:15 10.07.2025
Messi creates history in MLS, becomes first player to achieve rare feat
15:00 10.07.2025
Heavy rain delays over 300 flights in New Delhi
14:45 10.07.2025
Shamakhi to host conference on Modern Information Space and Freedom of Religious Belief
14:30 10.07.2025
At least 28 killed, dozens injured in pre-dawn Israeli strikes across Gaza Strip
14:15 10.07.2025
Court orders arrest of former South Korean president
14:00 10.07.2025
US nuclear-powered submarine makes first port call in Iceland
13:45 10.07.2025
Israeli soldier killed during attempted Hamas abduction in southern Gaza, IDF says
13:30 10.07.2025
ADY and China Railways reach agreement to increase BTK capacity
13:15 10.07.2025
U.S. measles cases hit highest level in 33 years,
13:00 10.07.2025
Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia discuss co-op in hydrocarbon sector
12:45 10.07.2025
UK, France to order more Storm Shadow missiles, plan next-generation replacements
12:30 10.07.2025
Houthis kidnapped crew members of Eternity C vessel, US Embassy in Yemen says
12:15 10.07.2025
President Ilham Aliyev addresses participants of ICDO General Assembly session
12:00 10.07.2025
US to impose 50% tariffs on imports from Brazil starting August — Trump
11:45 10.07.2025
US resumes certain arms shipments to Ukraine
11:30 10.07.2025
SOCAR president participates in OPEC International Seminar
11:15 10.07.2025
Hamısı